Since late 2006, when hiked levels of aldosterone and increases in blood pressure foiled Pfizer Inc.’s torcetrapib, researchers have been wary of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors. But not all researchers. Among the still-hopeful is Newamsterdam Pharma NV, which recently rolled out positive phase II data with obicetrapib, and the company is forging ahead despite other CETPs that have not fared well in late-stage testing after performing nicely in phase II, including candidates from Merck & Co. Inc. and Eli Lilly and Co.
Barely a month after signing a €1 billion-plus deal with Menarini Group for cholesterol-lowering drug obicetrapib, Newamsterdam Pharma BV has struck a $235 million SPAC merger deal that will see the biotech list on Nasdaq in late 2022. The deal will finance phase III development and potential regulatory filings of the drug once dropped by Amgen Inc. as big pharma turned away from the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor drug class around five years ago.
LONDON – Five years after offloading it to Amgen Inc. for $300 million, Dutch VC Forbion has reacquired Dezima Pharma BV and its sole product obicetrapib, a cholesterol-lowering drug for patients intolerant to statins.